What are the peculiarities of the Mac Mini?
- It's an all-in-one computer
- It's small (compared to most other desktop computers)
- Pretty powerful, but it may require some additional components if you want to use it for virtualization purposes.
Mac is quite popular among users who don't want to put much effort into buying a computer. However, there are not that many technical details about Mac Mini on the web. It doesn't really matter if you have a powerful desktop pc and a monitor for your Mac Mini - your choice of the right monitor for this combination is going to be limited by available space in your room. On the other hand, if you have a small desk or simply looking for something easier, then it matters more than you think!
What are the peculiarities of Mac Mini owners?
They often demand high-quality images on their monitors. This is because they already pay a lot for their Apple equipment and expect the best results possible. That includes using hiDPI modes on regular monitors or TV screens. These are sometimes hard to come by even among regular PC users, let alone Mac Mini owners.
The thing is that most modern computers support UHD resolution nowadays which can be into 4K resolution when connected to a 4K monitor. The thing is that most Mac Mini's use HDMI and VGA cables (or an adapter) which means that your resolution will be limited by the lowest common denominator - your monitor!
So, does it mean you should buy a 4K UHD TV? It can accept anything from 1080P to 3840x2160 pixels at a 60 Hz refresh rate but the truth is that there are not many models of TVs built for 24" computer monitors. Some of them even display some kind of a blur when used with PC/Mac Mini or don't support older technologies like DVI or DisplayPort.
What are the best monitors for Mac Mini?
Dell P2418D
Main characteristics:
This monitor has an extremely slim bezel meaning that it can match Mac Mini's design pretty well. It also has a very low standby power consumption which is important for Mac mini owners as they don't want to accidentally turn off their monitor because of overloading their Mac Mini (most models).
Its diagonal screen size is 23.8" (60 cm). It also has a very low refresh rate - 60 Hz, which is pretty low for modern standards, however, it can still show movies in 4K because movies are usually played at 24 fps or 30 fps, both of which are within this monitor's maximums.
Image and colors:
The color gamut is 99% sRGB, 75% NTSC. There are some more professional monitors with a 100% color gamut out there, but their prices are much higher. That's why this monitor is usually used by amateur designers or users who simply do not need extra colors. Method of production - the same as most televisions have these days.
The viewing angles are 178° horizontal / 178° vertical which means that your whole family can watch movies on it without distorting colors/images. While that seems very good at first glance, keep in mind that its contrast ratio is not that great - 450:1 which means that if you turn down the brightness to 0%, the blacks won't be truly black anymore!
Its resolution is 1920x1080 pixels meaning that it does not support 4K resolution! Modern televisions usually have a much higher resolution, but keep in mind that this monitor is a PC monitor and therefore has a different purpose - you can connect your Mac Mini or other HDMI devices to it.
Pixel density is typical for most modern monitors - 102 PPI which is pretty close to the Apple Retina display. This monitor makes use of In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology meaning that it can offer a wide range of colors and high contrast ratio from its typical 178° viewing angles.
LG 27UL650
Main characteristics:
While choosing a monitor for Mac Mini this LG 27UL650 is a good option. It is an IPS monitor with 178° viewing angles and it has a low contrast ratio of only 650:1 but that's not bad for its price.
Its diagonal screen size is 27" (69 cm) which means it can have the same dimensions as the Mac Mini itself, making them look like they are part of each other!
Its refresh rate is 60 Hz which is typical for most screens nowadays, but you probably know that Mac Mini doesn't support 4K @60Hz so if you still think this monitor would be a good choice then just connect your Mac Mini to it via HDMI cable and see what happens (because the correct answer is "nothing").
Image and colors:
The color gamut coverage is sRGB 99% / NTSC 85%. These are very good results even among professional monitors which means your colors will be pretty accurate! Because this monitor uses LG Display Co.'s advanced IPS technology you will have 178° viewing angles meaning that watching movies on it with family or friends won't distort colors/images.
Its resolution is 3840x2160 pixels meaning that it has UHD (4K) resolution which can be very useful if you're watching movies or playing games on your Mac Mini. Keep in mind that it still doesn't support Thunderbolt 3 so you won't be able to plug your Mac Mini into it directly without first converting the signal to HDMI.
Pixel density is pretty high - 163 PPI, which means icons and text will look sharp enough but not as detailed as they would on models with higher pixel densities. Similar to its competitor above, this model uses In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology, too, meaning that you will have 178° viewing angles and accurate colors/images from all of them.
ASUS PA329C
Main characteristics:
This monitor is great for those looking for a PC monitor with an affordable price and accurate colors/images. It covers 98% of Adobe RGB color gamut meaning that if you're good at photography you'll find this monitor very useful because it will allow you to display more shades of red, green, and blue than other common monitors (1.07 billion vs. 16.7 million).
Its diagonal screen size is 32" (81 cm) - pretty big but bear in mind that this isn't a TV so it can't be compared to one. Still, its size is great if you're looking for a monitor that will have the same dimensions as your Mac Mini.
The refresh rate of this monitor is 60 Hz which means that it will be able to display games without any problems. However, even if you won't use your Mac Mini for gaming the refresh rate of the monitor doesn't really matter because your computer won't output more than 60 frames per second anyway due to DirectX limitations so faster monitors are only useful if you're watching movies or playing some other kind of content on your PC.
Image and colors:
Its resolution is 3840x2160 pixels meaning that it supports UHD (4K) resolution just like Apple's 27" iMac! And since it has In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology, you will have 178° viewing angles and very accurate colors/images from all of them.
Pixel density is high -154 PPI meaning that icons and text will definitely look sharp enough but not detailed as they would on models with higher pixel densities. Like most monitors nowadays this monitor also uses In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology which means that the colors will be accurate and you will have 178° viewing angles.
The colors temperature is pretty balanced with a deviation of only 1.5%. This means you won't have any problems watching movies or playing games on it which is great if you're looking for a monitor to use as your primary display.
LG 34WK95C
Main characteristics:
LG's 34WK95C is a great monitor if you're looking for an even bigger diagonal screen size than Apple's 27" iMac. This model isn't aimed at Mac Mini users because it doesn't support Thunderbolt 3 but if you have a computer with a DisplayPort connection then this monitor will be able to deliver excellent image quality and performance while also having accurate colors/images!
Its diagonal screen size is 34" (86 cm) which means that its dimensions will be almost the same as your Mac Mini. It has 5K resolution meaning that its pixel density is 109 PPI, making everything on your desktop look sharp enough but not detailed as it would on models with higher pixel densities.
Its connection ports are DisplayPort (1x) and Mini DisplayPort (1x) which means that you will need to use a USB-C to DisplayPort cable in order to connect it to your Mac Mini.
Image and colors:
With a refresh rate of 75 Hz, this monitor is able to display games without any problems. However, even if you won't use your Mac Mini for gaming the refresh rate of the monitor doesn't really matter because your computer won't output more than 60 frames per second anyway due to DirectX limitations so faster monitors are only useful if you're watching movies or playing some other kind of content on your PC.
Pixel density is not so high -109 PPI meaning that icons and text will definitely look sharp enough but not detailed as they would on models with higher pixel densities. Like most monitors nowadays this monitor also uses In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology which means that the colors will be accurate and you will have 178° viewing angles.
Its color temperature is pretty balanced with a deviation of only 2% which means you won't have any problems watching movies or playing games on it which is great if you're looking for a monitor to use as your primary display!
LG 49WL95C
Main characteristics:
LG's 49WL95C is also a great monitor for those who look for something powerful and still reasonably-priced. This model isn't aimed at Mac Mini users because it doesn't support Thunderbolt 3 but if you have a computer with a DisplayPort connection then this monitor will be able to deliver excellent image quality and performance while also having accurate colors/images!
Its diagonal screen size is 49" (114 cm) which means that its dimensions will be almost the same as your Mac Mini. It has 5K resolution meaning that its pixel density is not also very high -108 PPI, making everything on your desktop look sharp enough but not detailed as it would on models with higher pixel densities.
the connectivity ports include HDMI (2x) and DisplayPort (1x) which means that you will need to use a USB-C to DisplayPort cable in order to connect it to your Mac Mini.
Image and colors:
The image quality of this monitor is great with accurate colors/images and 178° viewing angles. This model doesn't support G-Sync but if you don't play games on your Mac Mini then this won't be a problem for you.
Pixel density is not very high -109 PPI meaning that icons and text will definitely look sharp enough but not detailed as they would on models with higher pixel densities. Like most monitors nowadays this monitor also uses In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology which means that the colors will be accurate and you will have 178° viewing angles.
Its color temperature is pretty balanced with a deviation of only 1% which means you won't have any problems watching movies or playing games on it which is great if you're looking for a monitor to use as your primary display!
What monitor is the best for Mac Mini?
Each of the above models has its pros and cons but if you're looking for a monitor to use as your primary display I would recommend either Samsung C27HG70 or LG 27UD88-W. The main reason why they are my top choices is that they have very accurate colors/images (meaning that this is their strong point so they will definitely be good for watching movies, playing games, etc.) while also having all modern connection types which means that you won't need to buy an adapter in order to connect them to your Mac Mini!
However, the most important thing at the end of the day depends on your budget because these two monitors are expensive in comparison with other models. So if the price isn't an issue for you I would definitely recommend them to use with your Mac Mini!
What are your thoughts on these models? Do you have any other monitor in mind that might be better than the ones we`ve mentioned above? Don't hesitate to comment below and share your opinion with us.